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Vesuvius and Pompeii

Object Details

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Robert S. Duncanson spent a significant amount of time in Italy, and painted several views of Pompeii. Pompeii's dramatic history and the lure of Mount Vesuvius's still violent potential brought many artists to the area in the nineteenth century. This image shows the remains of an amphitheater, with Vesuvius smoking in the background. Duncanson probably painted this scene from memory, placing different ruins together to create a compelling composition.
Data Source
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Artist
Robert S. Duncanson, born Seneca County, NY 1821/22-died Detroit, MI 1872
Date
1870
Credit Line
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Joseph Agostinelli
Medium
oil on canvas
Dimensions
10 x 15 5/8 in. (25.4 x 39.7 cm.)
Type
Painting

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  • African American Artists and Selected Works
This image is in the public domain (free of copyright restrictions). You can copy, modify, and distribute this work without contacting the Smithsonian. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Open Access page.
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